Off the back of last week’s blind Scotch doubles bonanza, seeing Ali and Vini grab the title with an early 9 ball hill-hill in the final against Saman and Josh, this Monday we geared up for thewarm up event to Sunday’s big London’s Finest Pool Summer 10 ball Open.
Ram’s flight was cancelled so the odds wiggled late on as he joined the party, and we had the Lawrences in town from Spots and Stripes to show us how they do it on Rassons.
With a field of 30, only Ranj Sarraj and Alan Llorente got the bye so first up on the Brunswick was a classic match-up between the 16 year old Ukrainian, Dr. Ivanov, and eagle-eyed OliverLawrence. In a tight tussle, the fiery duck-faced wunderkind sprayed a few balls wide and Oli progressed 5-3. Both kids have serious talent in their own way and a lot to work on – it’ll be interesting to see how they progress over the next few years and their long-term H2H against each other.
Ali went 2-4 down against Sean and went rampant, sliding the victory 5-4. Sam Storey pimp-slapped Banks 5-2 from 1-2 – the same shape as last week – and the two white-washes of the first round went to Rod over Krishen, and Danny Navidi over Dhari Alduraibi.
In the bottom half, Ramesh showed no mercy against his training partner, Tomasz Jedlicki, laying him to rest 5-3, while Greg Mostyn slayed Cip (as you have to, catch that man early if you want a chance), and Gabriel pulled of one of the most serene matches I’ve watched at the MNT – pin-point accuracy and white ball control from start to finish, schooling Marius Wiszowaty 5-1.
Jenkins sliced up Paul Choong 5-3, and the mighty Saman continued his sharp form nailing Tobes Anyouku to the wall, 5-1.
The hare and the tortoise show saw Marius ‘Lady’s favourite’ Dandu square off against Hassan ‘Angles’ Mehedi, with the hare falling asleep at 3, as he does, leaving the prize for The Bangladeshi Professor.
Ciaran ‘Cue-Action’ Boylan finished Andy Adams off 5-2 and went on to take Sam-the-Ram-Killer to hill-hill but proving the commentators right that he isn’t quite up there with the biggest of boys just yet – but if he can avoid having his cues robbed again it’s looking likely he’ll sneak up and perhaps beyond the chasing pack of Pistol Pete, Kostya, Saman, Doug, Cip, Hassan Mehedi, Suk, and Arjon.
Ali couldn’t continue his form against The Chilean Dinamo they call God, getting bruised and beaten 4 racks to 2, as Oli Lawrence eased past Ranj 5-1.
Arjon the Beard had an excellent run, seeing off Alex Lawrence (Oli’s dad) 5-1, then Danny Navidi in a tight one, and then Samuel Storey 4-2 in the quarters, setting up a doomed clash with The Chilean Dinamo.
In the other quarters, Hassan decimated Saman 4-0, Gabriel smashed Greg by the same scoreline, and Rod screamed past Oli 4-3 and into a semis v Arjon.
At this point all four semi-finalist were in with a legitimate squint: Hassan playing well all evening against a battled hardened Vasilache, and a resurgent Rod against the beard.
But we were denied the fairytale tight semis as both favourites, Rod and Gabriel stormed their matches without dropping a set. This left Gabriel having lost 2 racks of the 19 he’d played until the final, and without a scratch on him.
The bookies might’ve had Rod as 4/7 favourite earlier in the evening had they played, but seeing Gabriel’s form they were both 10/11 going in and for good reason. Despite Rod finding his way again after some cue adjustments and apple juice indulgences, he took Gabriel right to the hill, but the Romanian couldn’t be stopped.
Well that’s all, folks!
Don’t forget to follow our boys in Lugo this week (via Matchroom link YouTube tables 1 and 2), as Sunny Boy Garib takes on Ko Pin Yi this afternoon after his first round win.
Sunday’s draw will be on Saturday morning with the 32 set up as follows:
1. Tom Staveley
2. Ciaran Boylan
3. Paul Choong
4. Andy Curzon
5. Muhammed Ali
6. Ramesh Gokhul
7. Kostiantyn Ivanov
8. Ali Hirji Kheraj
9. Doug Clark
10. Tomasz Jedlecki
11. Oliver Lawrence
12. Daniel Winter
13. Sunny Garib
14. Anthony Ginn
15. Gabriel Vasilache
16. Marius Dandu
17. GJ Oyangoren
18. Hassan Aljumali
19. Jaspal Singh Bamotra
20. Krishen Sookhraz
21. Greg Mostyn
22. Ahmad El Joumaa
23. Spencer Oliver
24. Sam Storey
25. Saman Gholami
26. Rod Altes
27. MD Abul Hasnath
28. Dmitrijus Terijevas
29. Paz Brennan
30. Carlo Blasi
31. Andy Adams
32. Sean Avery
